By Kenneth Sullivan
(All Scriptures in the article came from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible).
In the United States, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights promises every citizen freedom of religion, which is the right to believe or exercise any faith or worship of our choice without being revoked by the government and any citizen. Therefore, as American citizens, we can practice any religious belief we choose, and no one can take it from us. Likewise, we Christians are free to utilize our religious freedom to allow Jesus Christ to guide our lives without being under restriction by anyone deterring us from our faith. But to maintain our religious freedom, we must beware of other religious sects who teach us doctrines that are contrary to Jesus Christ.
Some religions believe in the antichrist, which the apostle John describes as anyone who denies that Jesus is Christ (1 John 2:22) and does not confess that He has come in God’s flesh (1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7). John declares the antichrist as a deceiver because anyone who denies the Son (Jesus Christ) does not have the Father (God) in his spirit, whereas anyone who acknowledges the Son also has the Father in his spirit (1 John 2:22-23). So, the true spirit of God is anyone who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh of God (1 John 4:2). This is why John warns us not to believe every spirit, but to test them to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). To maintain our religious freedom in Christ, we Christians must prevent the antichrist from captivating us by their faith.
Some religions still adhere to Mose’s law, even though Jesus Christ died for everyone’s sins. But as Christians, we know that the works of the law of Moses do not justify us; it is our faith in Jesus Christ that justifies us (Galatians 2:16). Moses caused the law to enter so the offense against God might increase and to make God’s grace around more for us sinners (Romans 5:20). And if we are unable to follow all the laws, we will be under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do all things written in the book of the law (Galatians 3:19).” Yet, Christ has redeemed us from the curse (Galatians 3:13), thereby we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). If we believe that righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). And if we attempt to be justified by the law, we will be estranged from Christ, and consequently have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4), for we are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). To maintain our freedom of grace in Jesus Christ, we Christians must not let any sect convert us to Moses’s law.
The bottom line is every citizen in America has the right to practice any religion of their choice. So we Christians must maintain our freedom to believe in the gospel, grace, and eternal life in Jesus Christ by keeping ourselves from being trapped by sects who teach us doctrines that contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ. We must not let any religious sect judge us by what we eat or drink regarding a religious festival, celebration, or sabbath (Colossians 2:16), nor should we allow any sect cheat us from our reward (grace and eternal life in Christ, emphasis added) by taking delight in false humility and worshiping angels (Colossians 2:18). Whoever does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; whoever abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. Therefore, John admonishes that if anyone comes to us and does not bring the doctrine of Christ, do not fellowship with him (2 John 1:9-11). We should subject ourselves only to Jesus’ teachings. May all we Christians keep our freedom in Jesus Christ—Kenneth Sullivan.